How can I get the most money for my house?

There are many factors that go into pricing a home.  How it looks, inside and out, is the most important factor for a buyer to be attracted to a house.  Almost 90% of buyers start their search on the internet for a house and the pictures tell them a lot of what they want to know.  If the buyer doesn’t see a picture of the kitchen, the buyer assumes that it isn’t updated.  If the front of the house isn’t included, it must not have good curb appeal.  Deciding to sell is not usually an overnight decision.  You have time to make your house as attractive as possible to a buyer and you should take the time to make a plan, do the work and have really good pictures to showcase it.

What is the right price?

Contrary to popular demand, Realtors® don’t make the market.  The market makes the market.  We analyze the market, report the sales facts and interpret the trends.  Because of all the media hype about the down housing market, buyers are very aggressive in their offers and sellers are often offended by them.  It’s important to keep your in mind that the object of the exercise is to sell the house.  In order to do that, you need a willing buyer.   One thing to keep in mind is that if you are selling your house for less than you want, you are also likely to get the home you are going to buy for less than the asking price and with the interest rates historically low, you will be getting much more house for less money and a lower monthly payment than you would have previously.  Look at the big picture and don’t  focus on the sale part only, think of the opportunity selling creates for you to buy the home you really want.

How do I live in the house while it is on the market?

People aren’t going to buy a house if they can’t see it.  Having your house on the market is not terribly convenient.  You have to be ready for a buyer to come in, look around and imagine how their furniture will look in your living room instead of yours.  You house needs to be perfect when you leave in the morning or you have to be ready to drop what you are doing and leave when you get a showing request.  Unfortunately, you are at the mercy of the buyer’s schedule and that isn’t always convenient.  It’s not always easy, but it’s worth it, because that buyer that wants to see the house in 30 minutes may be your buyer and these days, there are a lot more sellers than buyers.

What if it doesn’t sell?

A couple of years ago, if a house didn’t sell in a week many people would ask, “What’s wrong with it?” Now the average time for a house to be on the market is 90-120 days.  There are still some houses that sell in a week, usually because they are priced very aggressively or the right buyer just happened to come along, but these sales are pretty rare these days.  Buyers want to wait and see all of their choices and that takes time because there are lots of houses on the market.   Neighborhoods and schools are huge factors for people to decide where to live and that often takes time to understand.  Patience and  consistency are key factors for sellers to keep their house in the most appealing condition for buyers.  It will pay off when the offer comes in.  It is very important to negotiate any offer that comes in, no matter how low the buyer starts.

What if the timeline doesn’t work?

Once you get a contract on your house, the marathon turns into a sprint.  You need to pack, move and go to your new home and unpack and get settled.  The pressure of getting all the time lines to stay on track and not blow up is enormous.  There may be some bumps in the road and there are always extensions, rental agreements and storage units available to accomplish the ultimate goal.  It may not be pretty, but there are solutions.  Just ask your Realtor® for help.